"The President's decision to commute Mr. Libby's sentence is disgraceful. Libby's conviction was the one faint glimmer of accountability for White House efforts to manipulate intelligence and silence critics of the Iraq War. Now, even that small bit of justice has been undone. Judge Walton correctly determined that Libby deserved to be imprisoned for lying about a matter of national security. The Constitution gives President Bush the power to commute sentences, but history will judge him harshly for using that power to benefit his own Vice President's Chief of Staff who was convicted of such a serious violation of law."
And Speaker Pelosi responds:
The President's commutation of Scooter Libby's prison sentence does not serve justice, condones criminal conduct, and is a betrayal of trust of the American people. The President said he would hold accountable anyone involved in the Valerie Plame leak case. By his action today, the President shows his word is not to be believed. He has abandoned all sense of fairness when it comes to justice, he has failed to uphold the rule of law, and he has failed to hold his Administration accountable.
Democratic Party Chairman Dean's statement:
"Once again President Bush and the GOP have undermined a core American value: equal justice under the law for every American. By commuting this sentence, President Bush is sending a clear message that the rules don't apply to the Bush White House or loyal Republican cronies. After promising that anyone who violated the law would be 'taken care of,' President Bush instead handed Scooter Libby a get out of jail free card. Though Libby was convicted by a jury of lying about a matter of national security, President Bush is sparing him the consequences ordinary Americans would face. This conviction was the first moment of justice in a Bush Administration void of accountability. It's a sad day for America when the President once again puts protecting his friends ahead of equal justice under the law."
Okay. So fucking do something about it. Half the population is under the age of 18. Tanzania's future is NOW...join the 50% campaign!
I vote starting impeachment. But...What do you think, do they have the back-bone to do this? And happens if hey don't?? Half the population is under the age of 18. Tanzania's future is NOW...join the 50% campaign!
3 : A strongly worded rebuke threatening the President of a slap on the wrist. That'll teach him!
Short of Bush starting a new war, nothing spectacular is going to happen before 2009. The only thing Dems can do is to take example on Henry Waxman and Pat Leahy and investigate, investigate and investigate.
If they ever do, the real sparks will start to fly in 2009, but before that, very doubtful.
